Harness



(No Model.)

D. MGRSE..

HARNESS.

No. 256,914. Patented Apr.25. 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID MORSE, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION formingl part of Letters Patent No; 256,914, dated April 25, 1882,

v Application tiled February 21, 1882. (No model.)

To all whomit may concern:

Beitknown that I, DAVID MORSE, of Mount- Pleasant, in the county of Isabella and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Harness; and I hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

The nature of this invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of harness, and especially relates to that portion ot' the harness known as the breechingJ The invention consists in constructing the breechin g of sections of spring-steel, which are pivotally secured together at their meeting ends, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, in which my invention is shown in perspective, A represents my improved breeching, which is at-v tached to the back-strap B by means of the usual hip-straps, C, as in the ordinary construction of harness. This breaching A, I construct of two pieces of spring-steel, of the proper shape, the two approaching ends of which I pivotally secure together by means of the loop a and eyes b, as shown, or in any other convenient manner. The outer ends of breeching are provided with the usual rings or loops, I)to which are secured the side or holdback straps, E. The loose or flexible connection be tween the two sections of the breechin g allows either section to move independently of the other when the horse is moving, thus preventing undue strain on either section.

The sections of the breeching I cover with leather or other suitable material.

In the use of the old style of breeehing it draws tightly around the horse and compresses his legs, so that he cannot handle himselfnwith any degree of ease or comfort, and many horses have been strained across the kidneys and rendered useless in holding back a load with the movement of the legs confined in this manner.

With a breeching constructed substantially as herein described, ahorse can handle his hind parts naturally and easily in holding a load going down hill, as he can his fore legs in going up hill.

The side straps, E, are made of elastic material, which will admit of greater freedom in the use of the legs, more especially in fast driving.

While I describe the breeching as made of spring-steel, I do not desire to confine myself to its use, as there are various metallic substances which could he used with equally good effect.

I am aware that a breeehing provided with a continuous metal spring is not new, and I do not therefore claim broadly a springbreeching.

What I claim as my invention is- In a harness, the breeching A, constructed of two sections of spring-steel or other suitable metal, provided with a protective covering, and secured together at their inner ends by a flexiblejoint, substantially as herein set forth.

DAVID MORSE.

Vitnesses:

I). Soorr'r IARTRIDGF., L. C. GRIFFITH. 

